Can't Stop Pacing
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Join Date: Jan 2012
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Can't Stop Pacing
My routine was always to pace around and worry and walk circles around my room until the first couple beers hit me and I was calm enough to sit down or go about my day. Now I am pacing most of the day. I have tried carrying a soda around like I would have with a beer. I just don't know what to do. I made myself sit and come on SR. I feel like I will never enjoy anything again because I can't stop worrying. I also literally miss the action and comfort of drinking a beer. Anyone else down ungodly amounts of diet soda in your early sober days???
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Join Date: Dec 2011
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Originally Posted by SoberForMySon 
Anyone else down ungodly amounts of diet soda in your early sober days???
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Join Date: Jan 2012
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I can't go to meetings most of the time because I have to watch my son, and have no one in this town to help me, so that's not really an option, but I could still read the book, try to go occasionally, and do stuff online. Don't know of AA is for me or not, but not against the idea.
Powerless over Alcohol
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Trudging the Road to Happy Destiny!
Posts: 4,018
Oh my yes I always had something to drink in my hand.. Rootbeer, Ginger Ale, Gatorade , Lemonade always something with a lot of ice..
All the anxiety is so normal, you need to find your way to work thru it.. I walk outside ALOT and for me I go to a lot of meetings also, they really calm mind when its racing..
Well done on coming on and posting,, keep it up,... Just dont drink and these things will get better..
All the anxiety is so normal, you need to find your way to work thru it.. I walk outside ALOT and for me I go to a lot of meetings also, they really calm mind when its racing..
Well done on coming on and posting,, keep it up,... Just dont drink and these things will get better..
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Between Meetings
Posts: 8,997
Originally Posted by SoberForMySon
I didn't know kids could go... If that's the case, I might try that.
~sb
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MD
Posts: 15,967
Do some searches on B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning or behavior modification and self-control. Humans (animals) CAN learn how to change their former behavior patterns. http://www.psychologicalselfhelp.org/Chapter11.pdf
You've paired pacing and drinking. I suggest figuring out how to eliminate the pacing and replace it with something more purposeful, you can do it! Just do some research on it and try....
Maybe some indoor bowling game you can set up in your home (the walking is similar to pacing)... I dunno, something can replace your old behaviors, and yes, it will take some time and practice.
The 12 steps helped me to reduce the anxiety that I had had when I was drinking and thinking......
How old is your child? Bring a quiet activity for him to play with. It's amazing what a higher power can do for a child in a meeting! There's a young man of about 5 at our Saturday morning meeting who is perfectly behaved (at least within reason for that age) and a few of us have thought of him as we are out shopping....I have some spiderman stickers for him (he often shows up in a spiderman costume for the day).
We have an infant at the Saturday noon meeting, I loved his cooing at the most appropriate times as someone shared (ya had to be there, but they were perfectly timed!).
Glad you are here on SR!
You've paired pacing and drinking. I suggest figuring out how to eliminate the pacing and replace it with something more purposeful, you can do it! Just do some research on it and try....
Maybe some indoor bowling game you can set up in your home (the walking is similar to pacing)... I dunno, something can replace your old behaviors, and yes, it will take some time and practice.
The 12 steps helped me to reduce the anxiety that I had had when I was drinking and thinking......
How old is your child? Bring a quiet activity for him to play with. It's amazing what a higher power can do for a child in a meeting! There's a young man of about 5 at our Saturday morning meeting who is perfectly behaved (at least within reason for that age) and a few of us have thought of him as we are out shopping....I have some spiderman stickers for him (he often shows up in a spiderman costume for the day).
We have an infant at the Saturday noon meeting, I loved his cooing at the most appropriate times as someone shared (ya had to be there, but they were perfectly timed!).
Glad you are here on SR!
Recovered
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,129
I take my kids all the time. In a meeting was the only place where my skin would stop crawling.
Yeah, they respond "hi ______" when people are sharing. They come with me to the front when I hand out chips...they have THEIR favorite meetings. Lol
Yeah, they respond "hi ______" when people are sharing. They come with me to the front when I hand out chips...they have THEIR favorite meetings. Lol
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 5,678
Originally Posted by SoberForMySon
Anyone else down ungodly amounts of diet soda in your early sober days???
I have this problem with anxiety and adrenaline rushes that previously only beer could fix... now I try exercise (walking mainly) and playing music. I used to pace when I had anxiety attacks and couldn't get out (like at work or on a train). Try getting out of the house and just walking somewhere with your son x
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,513
I hope you do whatever it takes for you to recover.
I know for sure, that it took a lot more than just 'not drinking' for me to recover. And, yes, walking outside, was and still is an important part of my day.
I know for sure, that it took a lot more than just 'not drinking' for me to recover. And, yes, walking outside, was and still is an important part of my day.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Reading. Berks. England
Posts: 134
I drank up to 10ltrs of diet cola a day (and night), until I blew up like a barrage balloon with gas, and had a caffine induced seizure. . . It finally settled to a steady 3 or 4 litres. . 7 months now, and I drink mostly carbonated spring water and herbal tea. . . . This To Will Pass 
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,204
Sugar bear I am very familiar with that stuff, so glad you mentioned it, cos I never thought to apply it to myself. Skinner, Karen Pryor, and Jean Donaldson are my heros, and I train show dogs. Haven't done anything with the dogs in a year, though.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 123
Can you fall in love with Green Tea? Regular and Diet Soda isn't full of good stuff you know? If you are chasing the carbonation though I can see where it might be appealing. How about getting outside of the house, unless of course it might lead you to a store?
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,445
It's very important not to fall into the trap of thinking that because you feel this way now, it's always going to be like this - it's not SoberForMySon.
If you're like me you drank for years - it's going to take time to adjust to sobriety.
I used to be a worrier and pacer too - like you I used booze to 'calm me down'.
I've learned to let go of a lot of my worry, I've learned to calm down more too.
I learned to face the things I can and fix them rather than worry about them - the things I can't do anything about, I try and not tie myself in knots over them.
It's definitely a process, but if I can do it, you can too
Give it time
F
If you're like me you drank for years - it's going to take time to adjust to sobriety.
I used to be a worrier and pacer too - like you I used booze to 'calm me down'.
I've learned to let go of a lot of my worry, I've learned to calm down more too.
I learned to face the things I can and fix them rather than worry about them - the things I can't do anything about, I try and not tie myself in knots over them.
It's definitely a process, but if I can do it, you can too
Give it time
F
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